The Book for Backup
The Bible instructs that parents are to “train up a child in the way he or she should go: And when they are old, they will not depart from it.” (Prov. 22: 6) This is not only directions of instructions, but also includes a promise that righteous teaching will ultimately be remembered, recognized, and accepted; the child will return to the parents’ value if gone astray.
The fruits of the Spirit as mentioned by Paul to the Galatians are listed as love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are the core of what is to be taught children. To do so, one needs to spend quality time in preparation for reinforcing quality values with both verbal and visual rewards and encouragement.
Many parents will openly admit children’s lack of obedience and proper acceptable behavior in this 21st century could use a makeover. However, Jesus seemed to guarantee in the end, things will work out alright if the children were trained correctly. Does that imply that disobedient children might, just might indeed, lay some fault of their training on the trainer?
Maybe we should take a closer perspective of how Jesus dealt with children? When children gathered around Jesus to hear him teach and speak, the older crowd tried to push them aside. (Matt. 19: 14) Jesus said, Oh, no, let them come unto me. They want to see me and spend some time with me. (paraphrased) He said to “suffer” the little children to come to me”. Notice who is suffering? Not the children!
Were parents training in the right way when they brought their children for him to touch? (Mark 10: 13-16). What can we conclude from the teaching of Jesus that we may glean instructional cues that would help us train our own children? Jesus remarked to the older people to let the children spend some time with him if they wanted to do so. Jesus also said for parents to teach their children about him because this would be “in the way they should go”.
From scriptural declaration, Jesus would most assuredly become a very good father if he chose to do so. Agree? His children would surely have listened unto him at all times. How do I know? Jesus spoke to the twelve year old daughter of Jairus even after she was dead. He said unto her, “Little girl, I say unto you, get up”. Even then, she listened and obeyed Jesus (Matt. (9: 18-26).
Come, Let’s Me Count the Ways
Elizabeth Barrett Browning in her poem, “Sonnets from the Portuguese” to her husband, Robert Browning, wrote one well-known line that highlights the entire poem in Sonnet #43.
How do I love thee; let me count the ways. Jesus said that the greatest of all gifts to help teach our children is to have love for one another. (1 Cor. 13: 13) (John 13: 35). Maybe if parents would sit down with their children more often and tell them how much they love them, each one of them might realize love is reciprocal and rewarding and needs to be shared. Love multiplies instead of divides.
Children grow up fast and often remember little during this time. The Bible considers children a precious blessing and gift from God. “Children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward”. Jesus said, “Suffer little children, and forbid the not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”(Matt. 19: 14). (Psa. 127: 3).
If the Lord said that he wanted to spend more time with children, maybe we should consider this even more so, than we do. Training sometimes is quite demanding and trainers need always be near to wipe noses, put up a free hug signs, plant fields of positive comments, keep spare change handy, never pass an ice cream shop without stopping, keep handkerchiefs for bumps and bangs, keep ears clean so peepers can be heard and shared, brag on accomplishments regardless of the quality, take walks together, make cookies for extra friends who drop by, listen to all stories, read stories to them all, and last of all to finish your first day, pray with them and teach them to pray. Because of following the above, one day our children will know what is expected of them when the Lord God speaks unto them.
Why don’t we parents sit down with our children at least one day a week, and count reasons why we love each other? How about today?
Sower's Field by L. Michael Schoonover 